Warm Marinated Olives
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These warm marinated olives are a quick and tasty tapas-style snack or appetizer. Plump green olives and marcona almonds are warmed in olive oil with lemon zest, chili flakes, and lots of garlic. Serve them on a platter with some meat, cheese, or seafood for easy last-minute entertaining!
If you olives, you'll love our olive salsa that's delicious as a dip or spooned over chicken or fish!
Add a little easy elegance to your next happy hour platter with these warm marinated olives! Fragrant with the zest of fresh lemon and a whole head of garlic, this marinated olives recipe is an easy upgrade from a deli favorite. They're briny and bright with interesting textures, and they're always a crowd-pleaser!
What are tapas?
Tapas are small snacks or appetizers in Spanish cuisine. They're casual small plates of food served with drinks that you can usually eat with your hands. They can be served hot or cold, and can be anything from meat to seafood, potatoes, croquettes, olives, dips, or grilled veggies.
Ingredients notes
Just a few good quality ingredients go into this simple and delicious Spanish-inspired tapas appetizer:
- Green olives: we use the big, meaty, green gordal olives for this recipe but you can really use any olive variety that you like. Black kalamata olives are a nice addition that adds visual contrast.
- Marcona almonds: marcona almonds are known as the āqueen of almondsā and are undeniably delicious. They're sweeter and softer than regular almonds from California, and their delicate taste pairs perfectly with salty olives. If you can't find any, used blanched almonds instead.
Other ingredients you need are extra virgin olive oil, lemon zest, a head of garlic, red pepper flakes, and sea salt.
How to make marinated olives
It couldn't be easier to make these marinated olives, and they'll fill your home with the most amazing aromas. This is truly one of our favorite ways to enjoy olives!
- Add all the ingredients to a small saucepan, and simmer for about 10 minutes.
- Strain the olives and almonds, making sure to reserve the infused oil. Serve the warm marinated olives in a dish or small bowl, and use the oil to cook with or as a dip with bread!
Variations to try
You can easily add other ingredients to the marinade to make it your own, or to use what you have on hand. Here are some delicious ideas we love!
- Use sprigs of freshĀ herbs like fresh rosemary, fresh thyme, or oregano.
- Add a teaspoon of green, white, or black peppercorns for flavor.
- Swap the lemon zest for orange zestĀ for a festive citrus twist!
- Toss in a few sun-dried tomatoes for their chewy texture and sweet, and tangy flavor.
What types of olives are best to make marinated olives
For this recipe, look for naturally cured and brined olives that aren't stuffed or already marinated. We use plump gordal olives for their irresistible, mild, buttery flavor and meaty texture.
What to serve with marinated olives
Tapas, appetizers, starters, charcuterie boards. Call them what you like, they're always fun to eat! Just pull out an assortment of snacks from your fridge and pantry and arrange them on your favorite platter or in little bowls.
These are some of our favorite Spanish-inspired snacks to serve alongside warm marinated olives:
- Roasted red peppers: Roast them yourself or buy them in jars. Either way, sweet roasted peppers are delicious! Slice them to make them easier to eat.
- Cheese: manchego cheese is a must for a tapas platter. It's a firm, light-tasting, and easy-eating Spanish cheese.
- Meats: Spain has some delicious cured meat. Spanish chorizo (which is mild-flavored and very different from other types of chorizo) is a great choice, or JamĆ³n IbĆ©rico (which is one of our favorites).
- Seafood: White anchovies or marinated sardines are delicious on a tapas platter. Or sizzle up some lemon garlic butter shrimp which are always a crowd pleaser!
Recipe FAQs
Should I use olives with pits or without?
We prefer the texture of pitted olives so that's what we use, but unpitted olives also work. Unpitted olives tend to be easier to eat so that's something to keep in mind, and also consider how you're planning to serve them. For example, if you're putting them in a salad, no pits are best.
How do you store marinated olives?
Store any leftover marinated olives in the fridge in an airtight container. To serve leftover marinated olives, warm them in a pan with a drizzle of olive oil. Sprinkle on some fresh lemon zest to brighten them up before serving.
How long do marinated olives last?
Marinated olives will keep in the fridge for up to 2 weeks when properly stored, similar to jarred olives.
Are these marinated olives spicy?
They have a little heat from the chilli flakes. Feel free to use more or less depending on your taste preference.
Warm Marinated Olives Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 cups big, green olives (see notes)
- 1 cup Marcona almonds (see notes)
- Ā¾ cup olive oil
- Zest from 1 lemon
- 1 head garlic
- 1 pinch red pepper flakes
- 1 pinch sea salt
Instructions
- Add all the ingredients to a small pot over medium heat. When the oil starts to bubble, reduce the heat to low. Continue to simmer the olives for 10 minutes, stirring the pot occasionally.2 cups big, green olives, 1 cup Marcona almonds, Ā¾ cup olive oil, Zest from 1 lemon, 1 head garlic, 1 pinch red pepper flakes, 1 pinch sea salt
- Strain the olives and almonds through a fine mesh sieve. Reserve the oil to cook with or to serve as a dipping oil for some bread.
Notes
Nutrition
We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here.
For more inspiration, check out all of our appetizer recipes!